Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Puducherry government to "immediately initiate"
the process for conducting elections to the local bodies and
declare the results within six months.

The direction was given by a division bench comprising
Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice K B K Vasuki while
disposing of a writ petition filed by Puducherry Communist
Party of India (Marxist) secretary, V Perumal.

The court gave the direction after noting a submission
made by Deputy Secretary (Local Administration) of the Union
Territory, N Sumathi, seeking six months time for holding the
elections.

Perumal had sought for a direction to the Centre and the
Puducherry government to immediately hold the elections.

Refuting the allegation of the CPI-M that the people of
Puducherry were being deprived of funds allotted towards
welfare schemes by the Central government, Sumathi claimed the
UT was getting substantial funds from the Centre for such
projects.

However, she said no central assistance was being given
to the local bodies in the UT as it was not covered by the
terms of reference of the Central Finance Commission.